Fifth anniversary of Irma to see gov’t reflect on BVI’s progress
With next Tuesday being the fifth anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Irma on the Virgin Islands, the government is inviting the community to join in reflecting and looking ahead as the day is observed.
The government’s Director of Communications Dr Arliene Penn said the communication activities planned focus on where the Virgin Islands was in 2017, where it is today and the look ahead to the future.
“Throughout the day, there will be several reflective pieces comprised of videos, interviews, statements and messages, reflective quotes from leaders and reflections from a cross-section of the Virgin Islands business community,” Dr Penn said.
She said photographs will also be shared to highlight the progress made with developments across the territory. There will also be a quiz in the morning on ZBVI led by the Recovery and Development Agency and the release of the Recovery and Development Impact Report.
The Director explained that the day will also include reflections and a look ahead with interviews on the following topics: Through the Lens of Disaster Management, Through the Lens of Emergency Responders, Through the Lens of Utility Responders, Through the Lens of Recovery.
“Additionally, the Governor, Premier, ministers and members of the House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor will also give ‘An Irma Reflection’, which will come in the form of a visual quote of either a reflect, a lesson learned or a message of hope,” Dr Penn said.
“Community involvement will be welcomed via social media where persons will be invited throughout the day to finish the sentence: “HURRICANE IRMA 2017 TAUGHT ME…”, and hashtag: #IrmaLessons, #IrmaReflection and #Irma2017TaughtMe. The Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley is looking forward to everyone coming together to reflect and to look ahead,” she added.
Government Information Services will publish the schedule of the day’s activities.
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Looking for to that day being a Holiday!!!!
5 years later buildings not rebuilt, trash and derelict boats still sitting. Insurance claims not paid. Well, this is the Third World so what would one expect?
I suspect that reflection will last all of five minutes. Lord send help.
H.Lavity Stoutt had the dream, 99% literacy, colege for all. Since Irma we are failing our youth with part time school – 5 years means student entering 6th form have never had full time high school education!! Yes priorities are the incinerator etc but the children are our future, something thats been significantly overlooked for half a decade.
There has not been any ‘progress’ since Irma. Of course repairs have happened and things have been ‘fixed’ but what progress has the BVI made…? Same problems reoccurring…. deja vu all over again…
Yall need to stop reflecting on this so called “Progess” when there are still so many ppl suffering, displaced and barely surviving since…. sickening. what are yal celebrating????!!!!!
SCENARIO (1)
We could have repaired all roads, buildings, hospital, schools, recycling etc.
INSTEAD
SCENARION (2)
Appointed a premier who decide to go FULL NARCO STATE and REJECT UK ASSISTANCE and try to turn this Rock within 5 years into a shithole..
Once the UK loan guarantee was rejected all hope of improvement evaporated. Just more of the same, shoddy local patch ups of third world infrastructure.
What happened to the billions of revenue spent by the government, since the 1980s?
Unfortunately reflecting on progress is not going to take long.
of Prospect Reef on Tortola is the daily reminder of Irma for most folks traveling into/out of RT.
The next strong hurricane will level all the dilapidated buildings then sea level will rise enough to cover the debris then mangroves will grow to cover the shoreline by 2050 so this area will recover to the same natural beauty it was back in 1950.
Tortola going backwards!
I’m still trying to figure out why they accepted the RDA aspect of the recovery but not the loan guarantee.
It just does not make sense. The two were designed to function as one. And there are persons who think the little money RDA has spent so far is recovery progress. Yet they forget the development aspect that was to be taking place.
Reflect on how expatriate and locals came together to help each other . Now the crisis is over, the crab mentality in a barrel returns, pressure $6.00 per hour, working exp to death no overtime money ,
Rent going through the roof, prices of good and services raising at Uncontrolled rates REFLECT ON THAT
Why build a $4M school in Jost Van Dyke, Governor look into this. It is yet another kickback scheme. It can’t be value gor money for money when they only have about 22 students. This can only be justified if it will house the school, the clinic, the police, customs, immigration, Govt offices etc. This alone with the high school not opening is what we should be marching and sitting in the road about.
BVI Govt. To reflect.
Still paying the Duff and numerous others exorbitant rent. Took two years to build the ghetto on the hill with our SS money, but 5 years on and Admin Complex is in SHAMBLES.
Schools, Roads, Sewage, Utilties based on our population and GDP should be a shining example, not a shi++¥ example.
Private enterprise is what built back this place, not the previous nor the present admin of the day.
Pat your own backs with something else and come again!
The loan guarantee program was rejected because the lenders (UK) insisted on seeing exactly how project costs were derived and on making sure that was exactly how the money was spent. In other words, RDA was requiring fiscal accountability.
The BVI’s leadership has for years used the public purse how they see fit without having to explain or account for much. Consider that there was no audited government financial statement for more than 8 years at one point. Consider KPMG’s Pier Park project audit where they concluded there was insufficient documentation to complete the audit with more than $ 10 million missing. BVI’s history is riddled with plenty more stories like that, all with missing cash, all government overseen.
I reflect back and wonder… What happened to the 12 FG Wilson generators the UK gave for the shelters & community centers ? Ended up powering some politicians homes.
MAY GOD HELP US ALL! SOME OF YOU ALL NEED TO START DOING AND STOP LOOKING!
You are right. Education of our children is our future. All politicians have preferred to get rich rather than do their duty and rebuild the schools. Rushing to finish ESHS five years after Irma is a joke.
What progress? Five years and we are a Third World Country, no schools, no infrastructure, people still suffering, derelict boats all over the place, Prospect Reef an eyesore, but we did find 8 Million to unnecessarily spend on Lawyers and some people have gotten rich on money from the cookie jar.
September 5, 2022. Schools back half day. No power for hours and counting , kids washed in a bucket, no hot water or WiFi, roads a mess. On reflection ‘progress’ has taken us back to the 1950’s
Ghetto on the Hill, as you call it, has not a d@*n thing to do with Government’s money.
You are right, its not the Governments money, its the Peoples!
Although common sense indicates that SS is under a Ministry, and that most all of its employees and its leadership are making decisions with the publics money. These Officers work for the Government!
Real talk, Tola seem not to be going anywhere thanks to people greed